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4 Californians among 2023 MacArthur ‘genius grant’ fellows

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

BY THALIA BEATY | Associated PressThe John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 2023 class of fellows, often known as recipients of the “genius grant,” on Wednesday.The 20 fellows will each receive a grant of $800,000 over five years to spend however they want, though they are selected for the exceptional work they’ve already done, their ability to do more and their ability to leverage and be enabled by the fellowship itself, said Marlies Carruth, who directs the MacArthur Fellows program.The foundation reviews nominations for fellows over a yearslong process that solicits input from their communities and peers. Fellows do not apply and are never officially informed that they’ve been nominated unless they are selected for the award.E. Tendayi Achiume, 41, Los Angeles, a legal scholar who examines the history of global migration to argue for a reimagining of the rules governing the movement of people.Andrea Armstrong, 48, New Orleans, a legal scholar who focuses on ...

Oakland man settles pimping case with plea deal, two-year prison term

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man will serve a two-year prison term to settle allegations that he brought a sex worker to a hotel to meet an undercover officer, court records show.Charlie Jones, 21, pleaded no contest to a pandering charge and a probation violation in exchange for the two-year prison term. Jones was originally charged with pimping, pandering, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, court records show.The plea deal was finalized in June, but Jones wasn’t transferred to the state prison system until last month, records show. He is incarcerated in North Kern State Prison, records show.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | ‘You ought to be making this money for me,’ Bay Area man allegedly told ‘prostitutes.’ Unfortunately for him they were undercover cops Crime and Public Safety | East Bay man gets three years for sexually abusing minor; human trafficking charges dropped in plea deal Jones was arrested...

Larry Magid: Polly Klaas tragedy changed how we look for missing children

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

Poster depicting Polly Klaas and sketch of suspect Just over 30 years ago, on October 1, 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was abducted from her home in Petaluma during a sleep-over with two friends. Tragically, she was found dead more than two months later after a massive local search and intense national publicity, including a segment on America’s Most Wanted and articles in Time, the Associated Press and many other news outlets.Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: EV range anxiety is real, but is it based on reality? Business | Magid: Apple’s new iOS 17 increases safeguards for children and teens Business | Magid: Apple unveils new iPhones, ditches Lightning connector Business | Magid: Cleaning up your internet browser The entire episode is documented in a just-published book, In Light of All Darkness, by best-selling author Kim Cross, which covers the crime itself, the investigation, the aftermath and the effort...

Police activity at mobile home park in Union City

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

(KRON) -- There is police activity at the Tropics Mobile Home Park in Union City, according to the Union City Police Department. The Tropics Mobile Home Park is located at 33000 Almaden Boulevard. Thieves targeting drivers at gas stations, East Bay police agency warns Police declined to provide any other details at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

5 racehorse fatalities at Golden Gate Fields in 2-week span

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

(KRON) -- Racehorse "Hangin At Haven" died Wednesday during training, marking the fifth horse fatality in two weeks at Golden Gate Fields, according to the California Horse Racing Board."Hangin At Haven" died as the result of a musculoskeletal injury on Oct. 4, records show. Two other horses in the two-week span have also died after musculoskeletal injuries, including "Navy Queen" on Oct. 1 during training and "Great Story" on Sept. 25 during a race.The state’s horse racing board also reported two other deaths in the time span. "Weeping Willows" died after suffering a “non-musculoskeletal” death on Sept. 27 during training. "Gardees World" died on Sept. 20, however, the cause and activity were not disclosed. SF Fleet Week 2023: schedule, events, what you need to know There have been 13 horse deaths at Golden Gate Fields this year.Golden Gate Fields announced plans this summer to close down the horse racing track in June 2024. The track’s owner, the Stronach Group, said it would do...

Man with handgun seeking Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers arrested in state Capitol, posts bail and returns with assault rifle

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Man with handgun seeking Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers arrested in state Capitol, posts bail and returns with assault rifle.Source

Prosecutors say former George Santos campaign treasurer will plead guilty to unspecified charge

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The ex-campaign treasurer for U.S. Rep. George Santos is scheduled to enter a guilty plea to an unspecified felony in connection with the sprawling federal investigation of financial irregularities surrounding the indicted New York Republican, prosecutors say.Nancy Marks is a veteran Long Island political operative. Marks served as the campaign treasurer and close aide to Santos during his two congressional bids. Marks resigned amid growing questions about Santos’ campaign finances and revelations Santos had fabricated much of his life story.Marks’ plea is scheduled to take place in a Central Islip courtroom on Thursday afternoon. It comes as Santos faces a 13-count federal indictment centered on charges of money laundering and lying to Congress in an earlier financial disclosure.Marks and Santos haven’t returned messages seeking comment.The investigation of the first-term congressman has also engulfed Marks, a key behind-the-scenes figure in Long Island Republ...

Lawyers of alleged Andrew Tate’s victims say their clients are being harassed and intimidated

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Lawyers for the alleged abuse victims of Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer charged with rape and human trafficking, said Thursday that their clients are being subjected to harassment and intimidation by the accused and his followers meant to silence them. Speaking at a news conference held at a central Bucharest hotel the lawyers, who represent a legal team from the United States and another from the United Kingdom, said they wanted to take a “united stand” against Tate and his followers and address “ongoing attempts to silence those who are speaking out.” The 36-year-old Tate, a former professional kickboxer, is also charged in Romania with forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. He has amassed 8 million followers on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.One of the legal teams, McCue Jury & Partners, represents women suing Tate in the U.K. for allegations of rape and physical assault, while the National Cente...

India says the Afghan embassy in New Delhi is functioning despite the announcement of suspension

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — The Afghan embassy in New Delhi is continuing to function, days after it said it was closing due to a lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a recognized government in Kabul, India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.Arindam Bagchi, the ministry spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that the ministry received a communication last week that the Afghan embassy intended to suspend operation from Oct. 1.The embassy had said in a statement on Sunday that it would continue to provide emergency consular services to Afghan nationals.“The embassy in New Delhi is continuing to function. We are in touch with Afghan diplomats who are in the embassy and diplomats who are at consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad, Bagchi said.He said there has been a prolonged absence of the Afghan ambassador and a large number of diplomats have left in the recent past.There was no comment from the Afghan embassy on Thursday.India has not recognized the Taliban government,...

WNBA first: Hammon, Brondello make history as ex-players coaching teams in the Finals

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:45:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Becky Hammon sent Sandy Brondello a text before the WNBA season started with a simple few words: “This is about to be fun.”It has been for Hammon’s defending champion Las Vegas Aces and Brondello and the New York Liberty. Now when the two preseason favorites to win it all meet in the WNBA Finals they will be the first former players to meet as head coaches for the championship.With New York building a formidable team in the offseason through free agency and trades with the additions of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot, Hammon knew A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and the rest of the Aces were going to have a new threat to their title defense led by her former coach in San Antonio.She wasn’t wrong. The first-place Aces and the second-seeded Liberty Sunday will tip off the highly anticipated showdown in the best-of-five WNBA Finals.“We have a lot of mutual respect. I coached Becky and she was one of the smartest players around,” Brondello sa...